Mary & Jesus in the Holy Quran

There are many questions that com to mind when the name Jesus is mentioned. Some people say he was a prophet, others call him a god, while others say he was a very wise man. But whatever your idea is, one thing remain certain: he was not your ordinary man. So if there is some thing special about him, why all the confusion? Just who was Jesus anyway? His Origin Jesus lived about 2000 years ago in ancient Palestine when the Roman Empire was its zenith. He was not conceived in t usual way, but was implanted in the womb of a young woman named Mary. God simply commanded, and he was. In this sense, he was a word of God and a special sign for humanity. In fact, he was the last in a long line for religious guides sent to the Jews. Mary, The blessed Mary was a righteous woman. Her mother dedicated her to God's service even before she was born. As a child, she lived a life marked by health ad righteousness, which others pointed to in admiration. She was raised by the wise Zechariah, who instilled in her, a beautiful sense of faith in God. When she had become a young woman, Mary sough to purify herself further before her Lord. Knowing that he hustle of life I the towns was distracting, she withdrew from her people to a sanctuary. There she could meditate in seclusion and peace. Suddenly, on a day that seemed no different from the rest, and angel of God visited her, disguised in the likeness of a human. Afraid of so strange a sight, Mary prayed for protection, but the strange being reassured her and declared that he was a messenger from the Lord to announce the glad tiding of a faultless son. Mary astounded, asked how this possible seeing that no man had ever touched her. But the angel replied, Your Lord says, I is easy for Me. But when she felt the little child within her, she fled her sanctuary out of fear of what her family would do or say when they hear the news. Mary, however, was not to face hardship. When in her despair she cried out to God for oblivion. a voice soothed her and she found shade and a cool spring. Under a date palm in the warmth of late summer, she made her dwelling ad there bore the child unlike any other in human history. Shortly thereafter, Mary returned to her community carrying the child who was to be called Messiah, Jesus, and son of Mary. When her people saw her word. They refused to believe when she told of an angel who came and told her she was chosen above all other women to carry his burden. They accused her of infidelity and implied that she had ruined the family name. Mary, being overwhelmed, simply motioned towards the child meekly. The Miracles Now the child was the product of a miracle and consequently, miraculous things began to happen. In defense of his mother and of the truth, the infant Jesus spoke saying, I am a servant of God. He has given me Scripture and ha made me a prophet. He has blessed me wherever I may he and has made prayer and charity my duty as long as I live. This put the detractors to rest. Throughout his youth, Jesus remained dutiful to his mother and developed quickly in intelligence, wisdom, and piety. He dumfounded the learned and was greatly admired by those around him who appreciated his talents. He claimed to be a sign of God and a Messenger to the Israelites: His people had strayed from the spirit of truth and placed their sense of mercy beneath dusty scrolls and rituals. Finally, when he came of age, Jesus began to travel and preach throughout the land of Palestine about ha return to the truth of the old revelations and a refection of all that man had added. In his task he was supported by the spirit of truth, the angel Gabriel. The Gospel, His Message He taught that love and mercy overcome hate and anger and that only a true and sincere faith in the Creator and obedience to His will can bring a person salvation this life as well as in the next. To reinforce his message, which was called Injeel (Good News), God granted him the performance of miracles. He healed the sick, uplifted the distressed and revived the dead. All these things he did with the permission of God, never taking credit for them himself. He led a simple and pious life. Soon he attracted an inner-circle of devoted followers who listened to his teachings with fervor and humility. These disciples, among them Peter, Barnabas, and John helped him carry the message of Divine Love to the people. They helped him in his mission. A Test Of Wills But no righteous man of God is without trail and tribulation. As the message of Jesus began to gain wider acceptance, a small clique of hypocrites and evil men began to plot against him. They were the priests and leaders of the Jews whose position and wealth depended upon their place as the sole interpreters of religion to the masses. They pursued him and his followers and eventually captured him. Though they abused him, he never renounced his faith I the one God. So in their anger they plotted to crucify him on a Roman cross. But Jesus slipped from their grip at the last moment, and all the while they thought they had succeeded. They were sure they had killed him but God answered Jesus prayer and saved him from their schemes. Confusion overtook the mob and they might have killed the man who betrayed Jesus instead. In any case, Jesus escaped from their grasp. Then God removed Jesus from this world into another dimension, to a place with Him, not to return until a later time. With their teacher gone, the devoted followers of Jesus tried to maintain the purity and simplicity of his teachings. But they were soon besieged and overtaken by a flood of Roman and Greek influences, which eventually so buried and distorted the message of Jesus that only a little of its truth now remains. Strange doctrines of Jesus being a man-god, of God dying, of different parts came into vogue and were accepted by many of those who took the name Christians centuries after Jesus. Conclusion The only records that have come down to us concerning Jesus are some sketchy biographical material, poorly researched and complied, which can in no way be representative of the full and accurate Message of Jesus, the Son of Mary. The time of the final and incorruptible message was not yet at hand. It would be left to the last prophet of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him), to clarify the truth from mans additions and deletions. Jesus taught the same eternal message that was taught by all the Messengers of God, from Adam, on through Noah, Abraham, Moses and ending with the mission of Gods last Guidepost to humanity, Muhammad (peace be on them all), whose coming was foretold by Jesus himself. Every nation and every people, from the Aztecs to the Greeks, have received a Prophet or a Messenger from God. Jesus was the last of a series for Messengers sent to the Israelites, but they consistently strayed from the path of surrender to God. Each of the many Messengers spoke a different language and followed varied customs. Yet the core faith taught by each was the same: surrender your imperfect and fickle will to the perfect will of the Power that is greater than you. You will then find the peace and freedom that only the Creator of all things can provide. Then you must do what is right and good to your fellow creatures. This way of life is called Islam (surrender to God and find peace). 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